Usap-usapan ang sagot ni Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Chot Reyes hinggil sa kaniyang umano'y pag-step aside bilang coach ng nabanggit na koponan.
Sinabi niya ang pahayag matapos manalo ng Gilas sa 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, at nataon pang sa koponang kinatawan ng bansang China.
Ayon sa panayam kay Reyes sa post-game press conference, "I think it is time for me to step aside..."
"Through all the preparation time I have always said [to] judge us on our performance in the World Cup... obviously we did not perform and as I said in the last game I take full accountability."
"I hate using the word resign because I am not a quitter."
"I really don't know, I don't know if I'm gonna be still here for that. I might have coached my last game already as Gilas Pilipinas coach."
"I signed up to do a job and we did not deliver the result. I think it's time to resign and allow the SBP to make a decision."
Matatandaang binatikos ng mga netizen at basketball fans si Reyes dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagkatalo ng Gilas. Ipinanawagan pa ang kaniyang pagbibitiw sa tungkulin bilang coach.
Nag-sorry pa siya kay Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan sa pamamagitan ng text, gayundin sa sambayanang Pilipino.
MAKI-BALITA: Matapos kay MVP: Coach Chot nag-sorry sa Pinoy fans ng Gilas Pilipinas
Tila ipinagtanggol naman siya ni GMA news anchor/broadcast journalist Atom Araullo mula sa mga kritisismong kaniyang natatanggap.
MAKI-BALITA: Atom Araullo: ‘Minsan parang mas harsh pa tayo sa coach ng basketball kesa elected officials natin’